Pope Francis

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-speaks-with-open-heart-to-argentinean-newspap

Pope speaks with open heart to Argentinean newspaper
2015-05-25 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis says that being with people does him good.

In a long and very personal interview with Juan Beretta, a reporter from the Argentinean newspaper “La Voz Del Pueblo”, the Pope speaks of his feelings of when he was elected Pope, of how he misses walking the streets, using public transport and sitting down for a pizza, of how he feels moved and sad when he meets sick children, prison inmates and people who’ve had no opportunities in life, of how he would like to be remembered “as someone who did some good”.

The interview, conducted in the privacy of his residence at Casa Santa Marta, offers some insights into the everyday life of Francis who says that never would he have expected to be elected as the Successor of Peter, but of how the life of a religious, “a Jesuit, undergoes change according to necessity”.

Did not expect to be elected Pope
 
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-francis-to-argentine-newspaper-my-life-is-in-god-s-hands
Pope Francis to Argentine Newspaper: 'My Life Is in God's Hands'
Vatican City State,  May 25, 2015

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-wealth-that-is-not-shared-generates-corruptio

Pope: wealth that is not shared generates corruption
2015-05-25 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  If you are wealthy, you should make sure your riches serve the "common good." An abundance of things lived selfishly is "sad", steals "hope," and is the origin "of all kinds of corruption," large or small. That was Pope Francis’ reflection in his Homily at this morning’s Mass celebrated in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta.

In his Homily, Pope Francis reflects on one of the most famous passages of the Gospel: Jesus meets the rich young man who enthusiastically asks to follow Him and assures Him he will always live by the commandments.  But when Jesus tells him one last thing is needed - to sell his things, give everything to the poor and then follow Him - the young man’s attitude and willingness swiftly change. Suddenly, "the joy and hope" in the rich young man vanish, because he does not want to give up his riches.

"The attachment to riches is the beginning of all kinds of corruption, everywhere: personal corruption, corruption in business, even small commercial bribery, the kind that shortchanges you at the counter, political corruption, corruption in education ... Why? Because those who live attached to their own power, their own wealth, they believe they’re in heaven. They are closed; they have no horizon, no hope. Eventually they will have to leave everything."
 

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-s-message-to-conference-on-women-and-post-2015-development-goals

Pope's Message to Conference on Women and Post-2015 Development Goals
Rome,  May 25, 2015

Here is the message sent by Pope Francis to the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, regarding the Second International Conference on Women, which concluded Sunday in Rome.

The event was organised by the council, in cooperation with the World Union of Women’s Catholic Organisations and the World Women’s Alliance for Life and Family, on the theme “Women and the post-2015 development agenda: the challenges of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
* * *
To His Eminence Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson
President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace

Your Eminence,

I offer cordial greetings and encouragement to the participants of the Second International Conference on Women, meeting in Rome from 22 to 24 May 2015. This Conference, organized by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, in cooperation with the World Union of Women’s Catholic Organizations and the World Women’s Alliance for Life and Family, has for its theme Women and the Post-2015 Development Agenda: The Challenges of the Sustainable Development Goals?.

I was pleased to learn of this timely initiative, which highlights the concerns of Catholic women’s organizations in the international discussions leading to the drafting of a new Post-2015 Development Agenda at the level of the United Nations. Many women and men wish to contribute to this Agenda, as they work to defend and promote life, and to combat the poverty, the forms of enslavement and the many injustices which women of all ages, and throughout the world, too often experience.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/vatican-bank-posts-big-jump-in-net-profits-for-201

Vatican bank posts big jump in net profits for 2014
2015-05-25 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  The IOR, the Institute for Works of Religion, released its Annual Report for 2014 on Monday, showing a net profit of 69.3 million Euros, a substantial increase from the 2.9 million reported in 2013.

IOR media officer Max Hehnberg told Vatican Radio that 2014 was a positive year financially, but "within the norm" for what is widely known as the Vatican bank. The net gains, the Institute said, are the result of a reorganization of the accounts and “mainly due to an increase in the Net Trading Income from securities and a decline in extraordinary operating expenses.”
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-worldly-christians-cant-have-both-heaven-and

Pope: worldly Christians can’t have both heaven and earth
2015-05-26 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  It's sad to see a Christian who wants to "follow Jesus and the things of this world." That’s what Pope Francis said at Tuesday morning’s Mass at the Casa Santa Marta, stressing that a Christian is called to make a radical choice in life:  you can’t be “half” Christian or have both "heaven and earth."

In his homily Pope Francis reflects on Peter’s query to Jesus:  what would he and the disciples get in return for following Him?  Peter asks the question after the Lord told the rich young man to sell all his possessions and give everything to the poor.

A Christian cannot have heaven and earth; do not be attached to things

The Pope notes that Jesus responds in an unexpected way:  He does not speak of riches to his disciples,  but promises instead the Kingdom of Heaven "but with persecution, with the cross:"

"So when a Christian is attached to [worldly] things, he gives the bad impression of a Christian who wants to have two things: [both] heaven and earth. And the touchstone of comparison precisely, is what Jesus says: the cross, the persecutions. This is to deny oneself, to suffer the cross every day... The disciples had this temptation, to follow Jesus but then:  how will this bargain end up?” 

The Pope then refers to the reading from Mathew where James and John’s mother asks Jesus to secure a place at His side for her children:
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/the-whole-world-continues-to-be-your-cloister-says

The whole world continues to be your cloister, says the Pope to the Order of Friars Minor



Vatican City, 26 May 2015 (VIS) – This morning in the Sala Clementina of the Vatican Apostolic Palace Pope Francis received in audience the participants in the General Chapter of the Order of Friars Minor, dedicated this time to two key aspects of their identity: minority and fraternity.

In his address, the Holy Father remarked that minority “calls us to be and to feel small before God, entrusting ourselves entirely to his infinite mercy. The perspective of mercy is incomprehensible to those who do not recognise themselves as 'minor': that is, as small, needy and sinners before God. The more aware we are of this, the closer we are to salvation; the more convinced we are of being sinners, the more disposed we are to be saved. … Minority also means coming out of ourselves, of leaving behind our preconceptions and personal views; it also means going beyond structures – that are of course useful if used wisely – and beyond our habits and certainties, to bear witness to real closeness to the poor, needy and marginalised, with an authentic attitude of sharing and service”.
 

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http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2015/05/26/the-pope-and-his-synod-council-are-preparing-for-the-big-october-meeting/

The pope and his synod council discuss the big October meeting
Catholic News Service | May 26, 2015

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis and members of the council of the Synod of Bishops met Monday and Tuesday to review input from around the world for October’s synod on the family and made their final suggestions for the synod’s working document.

The office of the synod’s general secretary will incorporate the suggestions, have the document translated, and then publish it in a few weeks, according to a statement issued after the meeting.

As the council was meeting with the pope, the presidents of the bishops’ conferences of Germany, France, and Switzerland organized a study day in Rome. According to a press release from the German bishops’ conference, the meeting May 25 brought together about 50 bishops, theologians, Curia officials, and a few journalists to discuss issues likely to be raised at the synod.

Pope Francis has convoked the Synod of Bishops on the family for Oct. 4-25; it is to be the conclusion of a process that included a discussion within the College of Cardinals and an extraordinary Synod of Bishops last October.

Much of the media attention focused on the issue of outreach to divorced Catholics, including discussion about the possibility of readmitting to Communion those who have married civilly without obtaining an annulment. The needs of poor families, the impact of migration on families, marriage preparation courses, and outreach to gay Catholics were also topics at the extraordinary synod in 2014.

The Vatican sent every bishops’ conference the conclusions of the extraordinary synod, along with 46 questions related to how well the Church supports families and how Catholics understand Church teaching on marriage, sexuality, and family life. Bishops were to solicit responses to the questions, compile them at the national level, and return them to the synod office.
 

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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/bishops-synod-ponders-reform-of-rules-as-secretive-meeting-eyes-reform-of-pastoral-care-35545/

By Catholic News Agency's Vatican *******, Andrea Gagliarducci
As synod council meets, 'shadow council' pushes acceptance of gay unions

Rome, Italy, May 26, 2015 / 03:01 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- While the Synod of Bishops' ordinary council gathered to discuss the upcoming Synod on the Family this week, a private group of bishops and experts convened separately behind closed doors in Rome to consider the most controversial issues at the synod, particularly support of gay unions and Communion for the divorced and remarried.
 

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/confidential-meeting-seeks-to-sway-synod-to-accept-same-sex-unions/

Confidential Meeting Seeks to Sway Synod to Accept Same-Sex Unions
NEWS ANALYSIS: Around 50 participants, including bishops, theologians and media representatives, took part in the gathering, held at the Pontifical Gregorian University.
by EDWARD PENTIN 05/26/2015

ROME — A one-day study meeting — open only to a select group of individuals — took place at the Pontifical Gregorian University on Monday with the aim of urging “pastoral innovations” at the upcoming Synod of Bishops on the Family in October.

Around 50 participants, including bishops, theologians and media representatives, took part in the gathering, at the invitation of the presidents of the bishops’ conferences of Germany, Switzerland and France — Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Bishop Markus Büchel and Archbishop Georges Pontier.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-tells-fiances-to-prepare-for-marriage-with-de

Pope tells fiancés to prepare for marriage with deep awareness
2015-05-27 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday spoke to couples who are engaged to be married and told them not to be superficial as they prepare to enter into a life-long covenant of love.

In yet another catechesis dedicated to the family, the Pope chose to speak of the importance of engagement as  preparation for marriage.

Engagement – the Pope said – has to do with trust and reliability. He said it is beautiful that two people who are engaged to be married undertake a path together during which they learn from each other, sharing and participating in this profound commitment.

It is love itself – he said – that demands deep reflection and an approach that is fully aware of what it means to enter into marriage.

“The alliance of love between a man and a woman is an alliance for life. It cannot be improvised, it is not something you do from one day to the next” he said.     

And reflecting on God’s alliance with his People the Pope compares it to an “engagement”, pointing out that in passages of the Bible the Church is identified as the bride betrothed to Christ.

Speaking off the cuff to the many fiancés gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the weekly audience, Pope Francis encouraged them to read the Italian literary classic: Alessandro Manzoni’s “The Betrothed”.
 
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/general-audience-on-betrothal
General Audience: On Betrothal
Vatican City State,  May 27, 2015

Here is a ZENIT translation of the Holy Father's address during his Wednesday general audience held today in St. Peter's Square.
 

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/vatican-secretary-of-state-ireland-referendum-a-defeat-for-humanity

Vatican Secretary of State: Ireland Referendum "A Defeat for Humanity"
Vatican City State,  May 27, 2015

The Pope's Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, commented on the recent same-sex 'marriage' referendum in Ireland, calling it a "defeat for humanity."

On Friday, Ireland became the first country to legalize same-sex 'marriage' by popular vote.

The Italian prelate commented on the vote when asked by journalists during an event on Tuesday night, according to Vatican Radio.

“I was deeply saddened by the result," Cardinal Parolin said.

"Of course, as the Archbishop of Dublin has said, the Church must take account of this reality, but it should take into account in the sense that, in my opinion, it should strengthen all its commitment and make an effort to evangelize our culture."

The Vatican Secretary of State went on to say that the referendum was "not only a defeat for Christian principles, but a bit of a defeat for humanity."
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/card-parolin-economic-reform-must-focus-on-human-d

Card Parolin: economic reform must focus on human dignity
2015-05-27 Vatican Radio



Vatican Radio) Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of the Vatican, has addressed the International Conference of the Centesimus Annus – Pro Pontifice Foundation, which is meeting this week at the Vatican. 

The conference, on the theme Rethinking Key Features of Economic and Social Life, featured speakers from around the world, covering topics such as:
Can Growth Continue without Compulsive Consumption?
Merit and Dangers of the ‘Informal’ Economy
An Urgent Message for Today’s World: Can Catholic Social Teaching be spread even without the Christian Faith?

In his address on Tuesday evening, Cardinal Parolin said the theme of the Conference recalled the challenge of Pope Benedict XVI to “further and deeper reflection on the meaning of the economy and its goals, as well as a profound and far-sighted revision of the current model of development, so as to correct its dysfunctions and deviations” (from the Encyclical Caritas in veritate). He emphasized that the “main point of reference must be the dignity of the human person and the promotion of the common good.”
 

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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/bishops-synod-ponders-reform-of-rules-as-secretive-meeting-eyes-reform-of-pastoral-care-35545/

By Catholic News Agency's Vatican *******, Andrea Gagliarducci
As synod council meets, 'shadow council' pushes acceptance of gay unions

Rome, Italy, May 26, 2015 / 03:01 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- While the Synod of Bishops' ordinary council gathered to discuss the upcoming Synod on the Family this week, a private group of bishops and experts convened separately behind closed doors in Rome to consider the most controversial issues at the synod, particularly support of gay unions and Communion for the divorced and remarried.
 

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/confidential-meeting-seeks-to-sway-synod-to-accept-same-sex-unions/

Confidential Meeting Seeks to Sway Synod to Accept Same-Sex Unions
NEWS ANALYSIS: Around 50 participants, including bishops, theologians and media representatives, took part in the gathering, held at the Pontifical Gregorian University.
by EDWARD PENTIN 05/26/2015

ROME — A one-day study meeting — open only to a select group of individuals — took place at the Pontifical Gregorian University on Monday with the aim of urging “pastoral innovations” at the upcoming Synod of Bishops on the Family in October.

Around 50 participants, including bishops, theologians and media representatives, took part in the gathering, at the invitation of the presidents of the bishops’ conferences of Germany, Switzerland and France — Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Bishop Markus Büchel and Archbishop Georges Pontier.
 

this is happening in so many denominations . . . it is sad . . .
JMO

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http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/2108/0/ireland-is-worse-than-the-pagans-for-legalising-gay-marriage-says-senior-cardinal

Ireland is worse than the pagans for legalising gay marriage, says senior cardinal
28 May 2015 12:37


Ireland has gone further than paganism and “defied God” by legalising gay marriage, one of the Church’s most senior cardinals has said.

Cardinal Raymond Burke, who was recently moved from a senior role in the Vatican to be patron of the Order of Malta, told the Newman Society, Oxford University’s Catholic Society, last night that he struggled to understand “any nation redefining marriage”.

Visibly moved, he went on: “I mean, this is a defiance of God. It’s just incredible. Pagans may have tolerated homosexual behaviours, they never dared to say this was marriage.”

A total of 1.2 million people voted in favour of amending the constitution to allow same-sex couples to marry, with 734,300 against the proposal, making Ireland the first country to introduce gay marriage by popular vote.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-coherent-christians-draw-people-to-christ

Pope: coherent Christians draw people to Christ
2015-05-28 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis’ homily this morning focused on the Gospel account of Bartimaeus, the blind man who cried out to Jesus to be healed, and whom the disciples called to be silent. The Gospel led the Holy Father to reflect on three different groups of Christians.

Indifferent Christians

First, there are Christians who are concerned only with their own relationship with Jesus, a “closed, selfish” relationship, who do not hear the cries of others:

“This group of people, even today, do not hear the cry of so many people who need Jesus. A group of people who are indifferent: they do not hear, they think that life is their own little group; they are content; they are deaf to the clamour of so many people who need salvation, who need the help of Jesus, who need the Church. These people are selfish, they live for themselves alone. They are unable to hear the voice of Jesus.”

Silencing the cries for Jesus

Then, the Pope continued, “there are those who hear this cry for help, but want to silence it,” like the disciples when they sent away the children, “so that they would not disturb the Master”: “He was their Master — He was for them, not for everyone. These people send away from Jesus those who cry out, who need the faith, who need salvation.” In this group one finds the “men of affairs, who are close to Jesus,” who are in the temple. They seem “religious,” but “Jesus chased them away because they were doing business there, in the house of God.” There are those who “do not want to hear the cry for help, but prefer to take care of their business, and use the people of God, use the Church for their own affairs.” In this group there are Christians “who do not bear witness”:
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/the-pope-receives-the-president-of-croatia-collabo

The Pope receives the president of Croatia: collaboration between Church and State to support the family and youth


Vatican City, 28 May 2015 (VIS) – This morning the Holy Father Francis received in audience, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace the president of the Republic of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial discussions, the good relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia, further reinforced by the recent Agreements stipulated between the Parties, were affirmed. Furthermore, themes of common interest were considered, such as the collaboration between the Church and the State for the common good of Croatian society, especially the support of families and the young.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/programme-of-pope-francis-pastoral-visit-to-saraje

Programme of Pope Francis' pastoral visit to Sarajevo
2015-05-28 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Details of Pope Francis’ forthcoming visit to Sarajevo on Saturday June 6th were released by the Vatican press office on Thursday. The one day visit, focused on the themes of peace and reconciliation, comes 18 years after Pope John Paul II visited the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina that had recently emerged from the longest siege in the history of modern warfare.

‘Peace be with you’ is the motto for this 8th pastoral visit of Pope Francis, encapsulated in the logo depicting a dove with an olive branch in its beak. It’s a poignant theme for the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina, still trying to recover from the devastating three year war which followed the break-up of the former Yugoslavia in the early 1990s.

The country of just under four million people is divided into the majority Bosnian Muslim community, or Bosniaks, who number about 40 percent. They’re followed by a sizeable Serbian, mainly Orthodox, population and a smaller group of largely Catholic Croats, comprising about 15 percent of the nation’s inhabitants.
 

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http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/patten-vaticano-vatican-41397/

05/28/2015
Lord Patten: Vatican media needs unified and cohesive management

Lord Patten of Barnes, who heads the papal committee that advises on the Holy See’s mass media operations gave a speech at the World Communications Day in London yesterday. The event was organised by the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, highlighting the steps that need to be taken in order to consolidate and coordinate the Vatican’s communications system, making it more efficient and modern. The Patten committee has met a number of times since September 2014 and concluded its work last March, presenting its report to the Pope. One of the upcoming meetings of the 9-member Council of Cardinals in charge of looking into Curia reform will need to deal with this sectors which is of strategic importance to Church life.

The contents of the committee’s report have not been published. However, yesterday, Lord Patten said the committee has urged those in charge to introduce radical changes to the communications system. He underlined that “the fundamental weakness is the lack of co-ordination and integration of the Holy See’s media assets”. The various communications offices and institutions work independently from one another, the British politician noted, and this leads to an editorial approach that is unclear and media campaigns that lack central planning.

“It would be bizarre if the Vatican was to run its media with its eyes closed to the way every other media organisation is managed in the second decade of the 21st century. It would be beyond bizarre,” he pointed out, “to deny the Vatican the sort of modern media operation that others – including existing national church organisations – take for granted.”
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-help-the-church-not-to-succumb-to-profiteerin

Pope: help the Church not to succumb to profiteering
2015-05-29 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis says an authentic faith is open to others and forgives and urges God to help Christians and the Church not to succumb to a selfish, sterile and profiteering type of religion. His words came during his morning Mass celebrated on Friday (May 29th) at the Santa Marta residence.

Jesus condemns spiritual egoism

Taking his inspiration from the day’s readings, the Pope’s homily reflected on three proposed ways of living out our lives, using the images of the fig tree that produces no fruit, the dealers in the temple and the man of faith. He said the fig tree symbolizes a sterile life that is unable to give anything or be good to others.

“It (the fig tree) lives for itself, calm, selfish, it doesn’t want any problems. And Jesus curses the fig tree because it’s sterile, because it has not given of itself to produce fruit. It symbolizes a person who does nothing to help (others), who always lives for him or herself, as long as nothing is lacking. In the end these people become neurotic, all of them. Jesus condemns a sterile spirituality, a spiritual egoism. ‘I live for myself and may I lack nothing and the others can fend for themselves.’”

Don’t make religion a business
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/audience-with-the-prime-minister-of-slovenia-conti

Audience with the prime minister of Slovenia: continue constructive dialogue and the process of national reconciliation


Vatican City, 29 May 2015 (VIS) – This morning the Holy Father Francis received in audience the prime minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Miro Cerar, who subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States.

In the cordial discussions the good relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Slovenia were highlighted, and the Parties confirmed their common will to continue constructive dialogue on bilateral themes regarding the relations between Church and State, 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/vatican-fia-says-ior-on-track

Vatican FIA says IOR on track
2015-05-29 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) The Financial Intelligence Authority of the Holy See and the Vatican City State – Autorità di Informazione Finanziaria or AIF for short – gave a briefing to journalists on Friday at the Press Office of the Holy See to present the annual report for 2014.

The report reviews the activities and statistics of the AIF for the year 2014, which the AIF says present a continuous strengthening of the legal and institutional framework of the Holy See and the Vatican City State to regulate supervised entities, fostering international cooperation of the Vatican competent authority with its foreign counterparts and to consolidate the prevention and countering of potential illicit financial activities.